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CHAPTER SIXTEEN: THE DETECTIVE.
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-12-21 15:56:32
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THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: THE TATTOO.
AVERY’S POV:I hadn’t grasped the magnitude of it all until more people came into the room shortly after Detective Harrington left. Questions started—waves of them, relentless, from every corner of authority. Each leader came in with a new set of demands, forcing me to recount my story again and again. Through their barrage of inquiries, I began to piece together the truth about Mr. Axel Blackwood, my supposed new husband. Axel Blackwood wasn’t just a billionaire CEO; he was a name that carried both reverence and fear. His life-saving empire masked a darkness that was none of my business—until now. And yet, I had seen something darker. Something that didn’t fit the polished image. I had seen him kill a man. Not out of self-defense, not in a moment of chaos—he had done it with the kind of cold certainty that made me question whether I was standing before a man or something far more dangerous. His fortress of a home was no mere estate. It was a stronghold, built to guard secrets tha
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-21THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: OFF-ROAD.
AVERY’S POV:My gaze dropped to the black loafers placed at the foot of the bed. Functional, basic—just another part of my life that screamed, "borrowed." Sliding them on, I winced as the stiff leather rubbed against the bruises and cuts on my feet. Every step I took hurt. The loud knock on the door startled me before I could investigate the tattoo any further. The two officers were impatiently asking me to come with them. They barely gave me time to gather my drugs before ushering me out of the room. The hospital corridor felt like a tunnel, narrow and endless as we walked toward the exit. Outside, a gray police car waited by the curb. One officer, the taller of the two, pulled the back door open for me. “Right this way, ma’am,” he instructed. I hesitated. Something about them didn’t sit right with me. Call it paranoia or the instincts I’d sharpened during three years behind bars, but I’d seen enough officers to know how they carried themselves. These two weren’t it. Their
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-24THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER NINETEEN: BURNING FURNACE.
AVERY’S POV: I don’t know how long I was out. Time slipped away like sand through my fingers, but the overwhelming heat jolted me back to consciousness. My body burned. No, it wasn’t just hot—it felt like the very air around me had ignited, biting in on my skin with the fury of a flame. I blinked, fighting against the blur clouding my vision. Something burned, and something was on fire. The haze of flames flickered in my peripheral vision, but the world around me was still swimming, out of focus. I groaned, my throat raw as if I’d screamed for hours, but my lips barely moved. I tried to focus again, blinking rapidly, forcing my eyes to steady themselves.I felt the pain. My head was pounding, my nose was bleeding, and when I tried to move, I felt the jagged pull of my body against the restraints. I could taste the copper of my own blood. I was strapped into the car—no, hung upside down. My vision threatened to slip away again as I tried to gather the strength to act.I reached for t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-27THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER TWENTY: NEVER SEE HIS EYES.
AXEL’S POV:"Why can't I see you?" she asked, her voice shaking out of curiosity and frustration. She should’ve known better than to question me, to test the boundaries of my control. Yet, instead of reprimanding her for the insolence, I let it pass. I didn’t know why. Maybe it was the fleeting novelty of something else occupying my mind, though it wouldn't last long. My hands tightened on her hips, keeping her exactly where I wanted. "Because you don't need to," I said flatly. I drove into her with precision, every thrust deliberate and unrelenting. Her moans filled the space between us, loud and raw, but they barely registered in my mind. My focus was elsewhere, locked in the cold grip of my memories. It wasn’t about her. It never was. No woman I touched had ever been more than a means to an end. A distraction. A release. They were faceless, nameless—blindfolded to keep them from looking at me and seeing what I couldn’t bear to confront. But her. The one woman who’d slippe
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-27THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: STETHOSCOPE.
AXEL’S POV:The room was simple. No need for complicated furnishing since I occasionally used this house. Mahogany furniture, custom-designed chandeliers, and marble floor. The walls were a muted shade of gray, adorned with minimalist art—pieces chosen for their precision rather than emotion. A bar sat in the corner, stocked with top-shelf liquor that rarely saw use. The air smelled faintly of leather and cigars, though I neither smoked nor lingered here long enough to drink. Grabbing my suit jacket and phone, I stepped into the corridor, where over thirty men stood at attention. Their heads were bowed in reverence, their black suits masking the firepower some carried beneath. A few had shoulder holsters peeking out, straps taut against their broad frames. These weren’t just men—they were soldiers bound to me by loyalty and fear, their lives pledged by an oath I ensured they would never dare break. Walking past them, not a single head rose as I moved through their ranks. My presenc
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-28THE WIFE YOU LEFT DO IT FOR SEA.
AXEL’S POV:Cedric's words felt like a heavy burden that was hard to shake off. I wanted to dismiss him outright, but his voice carried sincerity. He looked at me, not as a feared man or a killer, but as someone he cared about—like a father would a son.I forced a dry laugh. "That's rich, Cedric. God? For someone like me?" I shook my head, incredulous. "You’ve been with me for years, patching up my men, stitching the ones I tortured just so I could tear them apart again. You’ve seen it all. Yet you think God has room for someone like me?" I sought. "If He does exist, where was He for the ones I’ve killed? The ones who begged for mercy? Explain that to me."Cedric’s expression didn’t change. He placed his briefcase down and leaned closer, his hand firm but warm on my shoulder. "Axel," he began, "you’re right. I’ve seen what you’re capable of. I’ve seen the destruction you’ve left behind. But God doesn’t weigh your sins when He’s offering to save you. That’s not how it works. You’re dyi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-28THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: THE RAID.
"Mr. Blackwood," he started, "sorry for barging into your office—" "You better be," I cut him off. "And it better be for a damn good reason." The man straightened, trying to recover. "I'm Detective Harrington Smith," he said. I tilted my head, unimpressed. Surveying the man at the front of the pack, I was able to tell that he was middle-aged, balding, and reeked of bureaucratic arrogance. He tried to look confident, but his shifting eyes gave him away. "And?" Slowly, I removed my hand from the button and clasped it with the other, resting them on my desk. "I know you don’t often get visits like this—" "Because I’m a very busy man," I interrupted again, my patience thinning. "And I hate being interrupted by people who can’t justify their presence. So, tell me why you’re here and get the hell out." Detective Smith hesitated, then placed a document on my desk. A search warrant. I didn’t touch it. My eyes skimmed the bolded text as he continued. "We’re here because a woma
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-28THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: THE HELP.
AVERY’S POV:I lost all sense of time as I stumbled deeper into the endless expanse of woods, my body heavy with exhaustion. My muscles throbbed, my throat burned with thirst, and my stomach churned, empty and relentless in its protest. Lightheaded from starvation and dehydration, I trudged forward, though each step felt like a battle I was losing. The jagged sting of my untreated wounds showed my vulnerability; the thought of infection worried my sanity. My clothes hung in tatters, clinging to my bruised skin. Now, under the shade of a towering oak, I collapsed, seeking reprieve from the unforgiving sun. Its light filtered through the canopy, harsh even in this supposed refuge. For the first time in days, I questioned why I was fighting at all. Maybe life wasn’t worth it anymore. Freedom had once seemed like a promise—a bright, shining thing waiting for me outside those prison gates. But since stepping into the open air, all I’d found was war. One unrelenting battle after anoth
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-01
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THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-NINE: A MEETING WITH THE DEAD.
AXEL’S POV:I leaned forward, palms flat on the wood.“First of all,” I began, “I owe every single person in this room an apology. For my absence. For what’s happened to MedixGen. And for the uncertainty it’s caused you.”A few heads nodded. Others watched, arms folded.“My wife and I…we needed time. Time to reevaluate things. Time to breathe after years of building an empire that never once let us rest. We didn’t think the empire would crumble behind us.” I paused, letting my lies sink in. “But it did. And I take responsibility for that.”There was no way I would open my mouth to narrate our ordeal to anyone. That would break my promise to Akira. “But I’m back now. And I promise you—” I looked around the table, steady and certain— “I will rebuild MedixGen. Not just to what it once was, but beyond. I’ll triple your profits, bring every failed investment back to life. I just need one thing—your trust.”The room was quiet, though not silent. There was a current of murmurs. Doubt. Restl
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-EIGHT: GRIEVING FATHER.
AXEL’S POV:"It's been such an honour to make this press release with my beautiful wife. Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood are back to run MedixGen and all related companies," I finished, my voice steady as steel.Avery, ever the graceful actress, clapped along with the others. Her hand was warm in mine as I stepped down from the podium, the flash of cameras trailing behind us like wolves scenting blood.They thought I was heartless. Maybe I was.What they didn’t see was the truth: control was slipping—at home, at work, inside me. I wasn’t just battling with external forces, but with myself, too. I was battling ghosts. And if I had to be cold to win, so be it. Avery’s plan was idealistic. I needed something guaranteed.Sea had to disappear—boarding school under a fresh identity or at Akira’s, hidden away. I couldn’t gamble with her life. Not again. As for Ryan… the last time we danced this dance, I’d been wrong. This time, the evidence screamed louder than his lies ever could.The next conferenc
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-SEVEN: INSENSITIVE.
AVERY’S POV:I thought she was leaving, but Katie stopped midway, her brow wrinkled as she turned back to me, the batter still in her hands. “Mrs. Blackwood… with all due respect, it’s my job to take care of this household. That includes making meals for you and Mr. Blackwood. If he's been cautious about who makes his meals, it's definitely not with me.”I closed my eyes briefly, trying not to snap. “Katie, don’t argue with me. Please—just let me do what I want.”The edge in my voice came out sharper than I intended. Frustration had been bubbling under the surface since yesterday, and this little back-and-forth nudged it past civility.Katie blinked, clearly taken aback.I sighed, immediately softening. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong. I just… I need this right now. Let me handle breakfast.”Her shoulders dropped in a slight nod. “Alright. Then I’ll take Mr. Blackwood’s coffee to him—”“That won’t be necessary,” I cut in. “I’ll make another one for him.”“It’s okay, Avery,” came a voi
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-SIX: FILL ME IN.
AVERY’S POV:When I finally woke up, my body groaned in protest.Sleeping on the ottoman had twisted my spine like a corkscrew. I shifted and stretched, every joint aching as I planted my bare feet on the cold marble floor—only to feel a tight, stabbing pressure in my left leg.I looked down.It was swollen. Badly.Puffy from the ankle to the knee, tender and discolored in some spots. My stomach dropped.“I need to go to the hospital… or see Cedric,” I muttered.I peeled off the crumpled sleep clothes and changed into a flowing emerald gown that gathered around my legs and swept the floor. The fabric was light and loose—strategically chosen. No one would notice my limp, not right away.I paused at the closet door. My heart thudded against my ribs.Please don’t be outside. Please let him be gone.I unlocked it slowly, inching the door open. The room was still. Quiet.Axel wasn’t there.Relief flooded my chest like a tide.My eyes flicked to the clock on the nightstand.7:03 AM.A new d
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-FIVE: SILENT NIGHT.
AVERY’S POV:Sleep had finally wrapped its arms around me, heavy and dreamless. The sheets tangled around my legs, and the weight of exhaustion from the day made my body sink deeper into the mattress. For once, I wasn't overthinking. I wasn't haunted by what I had seen on that balcony or the blood Axel had ordered spilled.But suddenly—I couldn’t breathe.My throat clamped shut as if someone shoved cotton down my windpipe. I jerked, trying to swallow, but there was no space for air. Only panic.I coughed. Thrashed. My lungs screamed for oxygen as my eyes flew open.And that’s when I saw him.Axel.Hovering above me like a shadow, his hand wrapped tight around my neck. His grip was brutal—his thumb pressed into my windpipe, fingers digging into the sides of my throat like he meant to snap it clean off. His body pressed over mine, pinning me down, suffocating me."A—Axel," I choked out, barely a whisper.His eyes were hollow. Not just blank—hollow. Like something had scooped the soul ou
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-FOUR: SETTING AN EXAMPLE.
AVERY’S POV:I rested for a while, my head spinning with thoughts I couldn’t pin down. Something about Axel felt... off. Distant. Like he’d taken three steps back from a war he was the one who started. This was his world—his creation. So why did it feel like he was trying to unmake it?With a long breath, I sat up and forced myself to move. Each step toward the bathroom made me wince—an intimate reminder that he'd been inside me not long ago. Whatever storm was brewing in his head, one thing hadn't changed: his need for control. For me.After washing up and pulling on a soft robe over a tank and shorts, I padded down the hallway. I needed to check on Sea. That girl was tougher than she had any right to be. Just like her father. Resilient. Quietly fierce.I nudged her door open and heard her soft, even breathing. She was fast asleep, arms flung wide over the blanket, mouth parted, utterly at peace.But when I reached to close the door, I realized I was gripping the knob too tightly.I
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-THREE: HUNGRY FOR MORE.
AXEL’S POV:“I would’ve followed you anywhere,” Avery whispered, her hands slipping around my neck, her body tightening beneath me. “I have died beside you, Axel. That should be enough proof.”I stilled inside her, the weight of her confession pressing down on my chest like a curse I couldn’t outrun.“Why now?” she asked, panting as she wrapped her arms tighter, pulling me toward her. “Why have this conversation now, Axel?”The urge to push myself all the way back in was infuriating, but I didn’t move an inch, savoring the way she begged with her eyes and her body.I tangled my hand in the back of her hair, holding her gaze. “Because it’s been eating at me.”Her eyes narrowed, suspicious. “What happened back there? Why did you miss the aim? One thing I know for certain—you’re a great shooter. If you wanted that man dead, he’d have dropped before I even arrived.”That was the thing. I was exceptional. Precise. Deadly.I slammed back inside her.“I don’t know,” I admitted, the words for
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-TWO: COUPLE'S TALK.
AXEL’S POV:As Baron left, the room finally settled into silence. I leaned back, the material creaking beneath me, shadows from the light stretching across the floor. My mind wandered—first to Sea, and how she’d surprised me. There was no tantrum, no cold stares. Just quiet acceptance. A daughter who’d been confused for years but chose love over resentment. She was more like Avery than I realized.Speaking of her—Avery sauntered into the living room like a flame in the dark, barefoot, legs bare, wrapped in a blood-red satin nightie that clung to her body like it had been painted on. Thin straps kissed her shoulders, the silk dipping low enough to tease the soft weight of her breasts. Every sway of her hips pulled me to her. Desire pooled low in my stomach, uncoiling like a fuse waiting to be lit.She walked over without a word and slipped onto my lap, her legs curling around me. Her lips found mine in a soft kiss.“Sea’s asleep,” she mumbled against my mouth.I wrapped an arm around
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-ONE: RED IS RADIANT.
AXEL’S POV:As Baron left, the room finally settled into silence. I leaned back, the material creaking beneath me, shadows from the light stretching across the floor. My mind wandered—first to Sea, and how she’d surprised me. There was no tantrum, no cold stares. Just quiet acceptance. A daughter who’d been confused for years but chose love over resentment. She was more like Avery than I realized.Speaking of her—Avery sauntered into the living room like a flame in the dark, barefoot, legs bare, wrapped in a blood-red satin nightie that clung to her body like it had been painted on. Thin straps kissed her shoulders, the silk dipping low enough to tease the soft weight of her breasts. Every sway of her hips pulled me to her. Desire pooled low in my stomach, uncoiling like a fuse waiting to be lit.She walked over without a word and slipped onto my lap, her legs curling around me. Her lips found mine in a soft kiss.“Sea’s asleep,” she mumbled against my mouth.I wrapped an arm around
